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SFC Publishing brings not only children on an adventure into the World of Ink; you’ll also find parents, teachers, authors, illustrators, schools, grandparents, publishers, editors, libraries, and readers around the globe logging on to our Families Matter blog.

NASRO President Kevin Quinn will be joining the show to talk about the importance of having the presence of school resource officers in schools, their duty to protect children on campus and the prevention of school violence.They will be addressing the issues of guns in schools, bullying and what parents and schools can do to help keep this crisis from growing.

The National Association of School Resource Officers
(NASRO) is dedicated to providing the highest quality of training to
school-based law enforcement officers in order to promote safer schools and
safer kids. NASRO, the world’s leader in school-based policing, is a
not-for-profit organization founded in 1991 with a solid commitment to our
nation’s youth. NASRO is an organization for school-based law enforcement officers,
school administrators and school security/safety professionals working as
partners to protect students, school faculty and staff, and the schools they
attend.

The Families Matter show can be listened to every 4th Wed. here on the World of Ink Network.

About the Hosts:Kecia Burcham works as a middle school counselor and holds a Masters Degree in education/school counseling as well as being a certified trainer in the "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" curriculum. She is also a certified NLB life coach, business coach, master weight loss coach and social/emotional intelligence coach. She has worked in the field of education/psychology for 20 years.Irene Rothis a freelance writer for teens, tweens and kids. She has published over 150 Ezine articles on different topics that are relevant to self-esteem and self-confidence for girls. She is in the middle of writing three E-books for teens and tweens.Virginia S Grenier is a partner of the World of Ink Network with Marsha Casper Cook. She is a Mom's Choice Honoree, an award-winning author and editor, and also speaks at writing conferences, book festivals and schools. She has appeared on other radio networks to share her expertise and guest blogs monthly.

The novel
takes the reader on a journey through the thirteen-year friendship between Sean McIntyre and Trey Goodsby and up to the tragic end of Trey's life, then goes into what effect his death has on Sean and those closest to the two boys.

About
the Book:

When he
finds his best friend Trey Goodsby dead and almost completely submerged in a
bathtub filled with bloody water, Sean McIntyre is determined to find out if it
was an accident or suicide. Did his death accidental or intentional have
anything to do with Madeline Edwards, the woman who came between them
constantly through their thirteen-year friendship? The tale begins with the
death of Trey Goodsby, and explores his relationships with family, friends, his
romances, and which of the circumstances he found himself in that led to the
tragic event, and the repercussions for those he left behind.

Overall
Thoughts:

Warning: Before getting into the review, we
need to first point out as much as we liked the book and the thought provoking
storyline, there is foul language and minor sexual scenes. We highly recommend parents
to read the book first if they do not like their kid reading books with such
content.

Author Scott
R. Caseley does a wonderful job of hooking the reader and taking them on a
journey through the lives of three friends, along with showing how, even though
they each have something in common with another, the choices they make define
their lives in different ways.

The book
starts with Trey’s death and even though it is the main focus of the storyline,
we felt it was much more. Readers will also experience the road to self-discovery
just as Sean does as he shares his childhood experiences with his best friend
Trey and love interest Madeline as he reflects back after finding Trey
lifeless.

Isosceles
hits a lot of difficult issues many teens face, bullying, social awkwardness, divorce,
death of loved ones, drinking, stealing and sexual involvement. Each topic is
handled in a way that is appropriate and doesn’t go into unnecessary detail for
drama or mass effect. Kudos to the author! The foul language is used in
dialogue just as a teen (when no parent or adult is in ear shot) would use it.
The voice of each character is authentic and each scene is something many of us
as adults have been in ourselves. A truly well done coming of age story with a
bit of mystery and romance to top it all off.

Places where
available for sale: MuseItUpPublishing.com, Amazon.com, Bookstrand, Omnilit,
Kobo, Smashwords and B&N

About the Author:

While this
is his first novel, he wrote and directed a dramatic feature, co-wrote and
directed a documentary and wrote for an online magazine. He’s also a trained
voice, stage, and screen actor. In addition to his creative pursuits, he
is passionate about healthy living. He follows a mostly self-directed fitness
quest consisting of weight training, walking, swimming, yoga, and hula hooping.
When not working out, he also enjoys cooking healthy gourmet meals as well as
playing board games with family and friends with plenty of coffee brewing to
keep the fun going until the wee hours of the morning.

Synopsis:
Do you know what a “powder monkey”
is?Could it be a simian that helps your
mother to put on her makeup?No, Rankin
McMullin is a powder monkey, a boy who carries gunpowder from the hold to the
guns on deck.It is the fall of 1810,
and ten-year-old Rankin, soon to be eleven, lives in Sackets Harbor, NY, at the
eastern end of Lake Ontario, with his Pa, a farmer, Ma, and older brother
Will.Hearing rumors of a coming war
with England, Rankin desperately wants to join the crew of the U. S. Brig Oneida which has been sent to protect
Sackets Harbor from an invasion by the British.His wish is to help fight the British and end the unjust laws which
force New York farmers to smuggle their potash across the lake in order to
survive, as his father used to do.Will
signs up as an armourer, and Captain Woolsey agrees to take on Rankin as a
powder monkey.The new crew spends a
year training and learning the ropes before war is declared against England.When that finally occurs, will the British
attack Sackets Harbor?If they do, what
will happen?Who will win the
battle?

Overall thoughts:In contrast
to the American Revolution, the Civil War, and even World War II, there is very
little good children’s literature about the War of 1812.Although Sackets
Harbor Powder Monkey: The War of 1812 is a work of fiction with invented
dialogue added to dramatize the action, the historical events portrayed and the
persons named are real.The book is made
more realistic by the inclusion of obscure, early nineteenth century nautical
terms like "binnacle" and "carronade."A glossary of definitions in the back, an
Afterword containing further explanation about the battle, and a time line of
historical events, all will increase the educational value of this exciting
story.The First Battle of Sackets
Harbor occurred on July 19, 1812.Youngsters will learn a lot about the background of reasons and events
leading up to the war.Aside from a few
common euphemisms and references to rum, I am sorry to report that Will uses
some bad language, namely forms of the “d” word a couple of times.However, if you are looking for a tale of
adventure which will bring the War of 1812 to life for middle grade readers
through the eyes of a young boy eager to help in the fight, you’ll find it
here.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

At some point over the course of your kids’ childhood years, they
will inevitably begin actively campaigning for the addition of a pet to
the household. While most will choose more traditional animals like cats
or dogs, there’s a chance that their tastes will run a bit more towards
the exotic. In some cases, some smaller pets may even seem like a
better choice to parents who aren’t aware of the drawbacks that some
common choices bring to the table. These 10 pets are among those that
you won’t want to adopt if you’re planning to have children in the near
future, or if you already have little ones in the house.

Primates – Fictional characters may have their
beloved primate sidekicks, but that doesn’t mean that monkeys are a
great choice for real-life families. In addition to being temperamental
enough to cause very serious injury if provoked, keeping certain
primates is illegal in some states. There are also ethical issues to
consider, as many primates that end up on the pet market were taken from
their natural habitat as babies specifically for sale as pets.
Furthermore, certain types of primates can harbor herpes B, a disease
that’s potentially fatal to humans, and one that doesn’t reliably show
up during veterinary testing.

Turtles – The hard shell of a turtle seems to
indicate sturdiness and their slow pace can easily be mistaken for
patience. In fact, some varieties of turtle can be very temperamental.
Turtles commonly carry salmonella bacteria as well, which may make them
unsafe for children that aren’t vigilant about washing their hands
properly after handling them.

Hedgehogs – Cartoon characters like Sonic make
hedgehogs seem like ideal pets, but this isn’t always the case.
Hedgehogs are considered exotic pets and do require very specific
environmental conditions to thrive. Not to mention the fact that their
quills are sharp!

Ferrets – Small and fun to watch, ferrets can seem
like the ideal choice for kids. They’re actually quite prone to anxiety,
however, and can lash out when they’re threatened, making them
dangerous for small children to hold. They also produce a musky smell
that’s difficult to mask, which could be a deal-breaker for adults in
the house.

Hamsters – When most parents think of small, furry
animals that would make a great starter pet, hamsters are at the top of
the list. What you may not realize, however, is that they may be quite
disappointing for the kids they’re meant to entertain. Hamsters are
naturally nocturnal, meaning that they will be sleeping while kids want
to interact with them. Keeping a hamster in your child’s room is also
likely to affect his sleep schedule, as a hamster becomes active enough
at night to make noises that could wake your child.

Snakes – It’s not difficult to convince most
parents that snakes are a less than ideal choice for a family pet, but
there are those that allow themselves to be swayed. Their feeding habits
can be traumatic to small children, as they typically consume rats and
other small rodents whole, and they can become much larger than
anticipated. In such cases, families are left with a snake they cannot
properly care for and may have difficulty finding a serpent-friendly
family to take over responsibility for it.

Big Cats – Most parents wouldn’t dream of
introducing a tiger, leopard or panther to their household, but keeping
big cats as pets isn’t unheard of. In fact, there are more tigers in
private ownership now than thriving in the wild. Even if they’re raised
from tiny cubs, big cats are still essentially wild animals and will
behave as such, which can have deadly consequences.

Kinkajous – These members of the raccoon family
gained a small measure of popularity as an exotic pet when celebrity
heiress Paris Hilton began appearing on the red carpet with one of her
very own. They can be dangerous, biting and scratching when they’re
stressed, and can also carry Kingella potus bacteria, which can cause
high fevers, severe headaches and stomach pains in humans.

Iguanas – The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention estimates that as many as 93,000 people contract salmonella
each year through exposure to reptiles, which up to 90% of iguanas have.
Their claws are extremely sharp, and adults can weigh as much as 30
pounds. Bites from iguanas are fairly common, and can be very serious.
They absolutely should not be kept in a house with small children.

Hermit Crabs – Many pet stores and even novelty
beach-side gift shops sell hermit crabs in brightly colored shells that
can be tempting to small children. While they’re small, their pincers
can be quite painful if they latch on properly. Furthermore, they cannot
be handled or moved during their molting period, which lasts for
roughly one week and can happen as often as once each month. Moving a
molting crab will almost invariably kill it, giving small kids an early
lesson about the life cycle.

While these pets are not likely to be the best choices for households
with small children, it’s important to keep in mind that even trusted
furry friends can be questionable. Though the environment in which your
dog or cat is raised will have a huge bearing on how it behaves later,
you should keep in mind that some breeds have a genetic predisposition
to be better suited to life with children than others. Be sure you do
your homework on any animal before you introduce your children to it and
bring it into your home as a new member of the family.

First published on http://www.babysittingjobs.com/blog/10-pets-not-to-get-when-you-have-kids/

Monday, March 18, 2013

When getting kids to take a bath is a battle, a few fun toys can make
the experience a bit more enjoyable for everyone involved. While your
child is getting clean and having a ball, however, her toys can collect
mold, bacterial growth or hard water deposits if they’re not draining
properly and aren’t periodically cleaned. Rather than tossing the entire
lot and replacing them, which can be bad for the environment as well as
hard on your pocketbook, you can take advantage of a few tips that will
allow you to clean them thoroughly.

Be Careful With Bleach
Household bleach is an effective cleaner, but it’s also a harsh
chemical that can be dangerous for children. Your first instinct may be
to clean your child’s bath toys with a solution of diluted bleach, but
it’s important to note that the concentration of chemicals in commercial
bleach products changed in December of 2012. Before the change, most
brands contained a 5.25% – 6% solution of sodium hypochlorite. Now,
bleach sold under both national brand names and as generic products may
contain up to 8.25% sodium hypochlorite. New recommendations for using
bleach on children’s toys include choosing only Environmental Protection
Agency registered products, carefully following the manufacturer’s
dilution instructions, and modifying contact times accordingly.

Vinegar is Your Friend
The same stuff that makes a great salad dressing and has a host of
culinary uses is also an effective alternative to harsh chemical
cleaners, killing mold and inhibiting bacterial growth. Soaking bath tub
toys in a basin containing a solution of two parts hot water to one
part white vinegar for 10 to 15 minutes at least once a week, then
letting them air dry in the sun or on clean, folded towels near an open
window can help them to dry quickly without forming dangerous mold or
bacterial growth. As an added bonus, vinegar will not irritate your
child’s sensitive skin or expose him to dangerous chemicals.

The Dishwasher: Not Just for Dishes
Tub toys that are made of rubber or plastic can be run through the
dishwasher, where high water temperatures and detergents can kill any
existing mold or bacteria. If you opt to keep your child’s bath tub toys
clean by regularly washing them in the dishwasher, it’s important to
keep in mind that proper drainage and thorough drying is still very
important. When water collects in hard-to-reach places, bacteria and
mold can still flourish.

Keep Bath Tub Toys Out of the Bathroom
It may seem like an unnecessary complication to store your child’s
bath tub toys somewhere other than the bathroom, but it can actually
help to keep them clean and disinfected. Steam from baths, showers and
hot water running in the sink makes the bathroom air moist most of the
time, which can promote bacterial growth and mold formation on your
child’s newly-cleaned toys. When they’re stored elsewhere and brought in
for bath time, they’re not cluttering your bathroom or subjected to
constant moisture in the air.

Scrub, Scrub, Scrub
Using an old but clean toothbrush or other small scrub brushes to
clean cracks and crevices with antibacterial dish soap
allows you to see any mold that has formed and attack it directly. If
toys are particularly gunky, it may be best to start cleaning with this
method and then follow up with a soak in vinegar solutions or a trip
through the dishwasher cycle. Adding a small amount of tea tree oil to
your scrubbing solution can also help, as it’s a natural substance with
strong antiseptic qualities. Be sure to thoroughly rinse any toys that
you’ve cleaned with a tea tree oil solution, however, as it is not
considered safe for ingestion and bath tub toys seem to always end up in
kids’ mouths.

Check for Cleaning Products Targeted to Kids
There are some commercially-available products on the market that are
designed to clean kids’ toys safely and effectively. If you do choose
to go this route, however, be sure that you check the label to ensure
that there are no warnings or overly harsh chemicals. Despite “green”
names and deceptive packaging, some specialty products are just
re-packaged versions of their full-strength, chemical-laden brethren.

First published on http://www.babysitters.net/blog/how-to-disinfect-tub-toys/

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Trying to explain the concept of good manners and instill them in a
toddler isn’t always easy. Because little ones are still developing and
learning about the world around them through exploration and
experimentation, they don’t always take well to boundaries and
guidelines. These 10 tips can help you work with your toddler to
encourage good manners and lay the foundation for future lessons in
etiquette as they get older.

Model Good Manners – When you’re attempting to
teach your toddler the basics of politeness and good manners, you must
keep in mind that much of toddlers’ learned behavior is modeled after
what they observe the loved and admired adults in their lives
exhibiting. One of the best and most effective ways to help her learn
good manners is to make sure that you always say things like “please”
and “thank you” yourself.

Start Small – The world of manners and etiquette is
vast and can be complicated for some adults to navigate properly. The
key to helping your child learn the more subtle points of mannerly
behavior as she gets older is to keep your lessons age appropriate,
starting with simple concepts during the toddler years. Sharing, asking
nicely, and showing gratitude are great places to start.

Make Play Dates Learning Experiences – Your child
is learning about the world and her surroundings through exploration and
play, which is why play dates can be such valuable teaching tools. If
you’re focusing on sharing, make sure that she’s being reminded politely
that she should always share her toys. If the goal is mastering
“please” and “thank you,” point out the times when those phrases are
appropriate.

Be Consistent – It can be frustrating to attempt to
instill civility and manners into a toddler that seems to show no
interest in accepting those skills, but it’s important that you don’t
give up out of frustration. Consistency, repetition and structure are
key components to teaching young children new skills.

Use Positive Reinforcement – If your parenting
style allows for tangible rewards for good behavior, make sure that
you’re rewarding any exhibitions of good manners. If not, it’s important
to praise her accomplishments and let her know that she’s done the
right thing by choosing to be polite in any given situation.

Make Mealtimes Work for You – Sitting still and
focusing aren’t key strengths typically exhibited by toddlers, which is
why you may find that you have more luck working with your little one
during meal times. Coaching on “please” and “thank you” during meals,
along with asking nicely for things and behaving as well as possible,
can help to build a strong foundation for future lessons.

Keep Your Expectations Realistic – Expecting a
toddler to master the more subtle nuances of polite social interaction
simply isn’t realistic, and will only lead to both of you feeling
disappointed and frustrated. Focus on the things that your toddler is
able to learn, and save the lessons on dessert forks until she’s a bit
older.

Think About Your Disciplinary Tactics – Look at how
you’re disciplining your child, and determine whether or not it’s
conducive to helping her learn good manners. If you resort to shouting
and angry words when she’s not doing what you expect, it’ll be difficult
to instill the concept of inside voices and calm requests.

Take a Trip to the Local Bookstore – Many of the
major milestones in early childhood are discussed in children’s books
tailored specifically to the attention span and developmental needs of
little ones. Switching out a favorite bedtime story for a new book about
manners can be a great way of helping her to apply the concept in a way
that she understands.

Explain Why Manners Matter – For older toddlers, it
may be necessary to explain why learning good manners are important,
especially if they’re naturally exuberant. Taking the time to calmly and
firmly explain about hurting the feelings of those around them and
being nice to the people they know can make a noticeable difference.

Working with your children to build the groundwork for good manners
and behavior is a task that doesn’t always go as planned. Try to keep in
mind that every child develops at her own pace, and she may take longer
to grasp the concepts of sharing, gratitude and politeness than her
siblings or peers. Continuing to work with her on these concepts while
maintaining as much patience as possible is the best way to reinforce
good manners.

First published on http://www.findababysitter.org/blog/10-ways-to-teach-your-toddler-manners/

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Dedicating one night of the week to a shared family meal around the
dinner table is a great way to reconnect, share the events of your week
and spend time together after a hectic week of rushing from one activity
to the next. In fact, it can even be good for everyone’s health! The
University of Florida has published research indicating that family
dinners are linked to a lower risk of substance abuse, increased chances
of finishing high school, a diminished risk of obesity and better
eating habits. Planning your family dinner and making attendance
compulsory may not always be popular in the beginning, especially if you
have older children. Eventually, even reluctant tweens and teens will
begin participating actively in conversations and family rituals.

Choose Your Day
Families today are busy. Even young children have ballet and soccer,
Tae Kwon Do and T-Ball to attend. Finding one day of the week when
everyone’s schedules are open may initially be a challenge, and may even
require some adjustments. However, finding that one day to dedicate to
family dinner and establishing it as a non-negotiable event will ensure
that future schedules are created with Family Dinner Night in mind. Keep
in mind, too, that you’re not limited to one dinner together each week.
Eating together whenever possible never hurt anyone! Just make sure
that your weekly night maintains its special designation.

Make Dinner Together
Getting everyone involved in dinner preparation helps to foster a
sense of ownership over the night, with everyone feeling that they’ve
contributed. This is also a great opportunity to pass along important
skills; younger kids can learn how to properly set the table, while
older ones can begin to hone their cooking and kitchen skills. When
everyone has a say in the meal selection and the dishes prepared, you’ll
also be able to cut down on howling protests about vegetables or
unfamiliar foods.

Focus on Conversation and Sharing
Making an effort to include everyone in the conversation, from the
youngest and most eager to the most aloof teenager isn’t always easy. It
is, however, essential to the success of family dinner. Making sure to
include everyone, and to steer conversations in a direction suitable for
the entire family will help to prevent any feelings of exclusion or
frustration, forming the foundation for your weekly night together.

Ban Electronics
Prying cell phones, MP3 players and mobile gaming devices out of your
kids’ hands may be a battle of epic proportions, but it’s also worth
it. Instituting a rule that forbids these devices at the table will not
be popular at first, but it will eventually become commonplace. Allowing
kids to keep their phones and other electronics may seem easier, but
they’ll only present a distraction and keep everyone from really
connecting, which is the point of spending the evening together in the
first place.

Have Food Adventures
Setting dinner themes like Mexican Night or Italian Night can
gradually expand kids’ horizons, starting with cuisine that’s familiar
and gradually becoming more adventurous. This is a great way to
encourage kids to be adventurous eaters, especially if the cuisine is
tied to a theme that they can have fun with. Have chop sticks on hand
for Chinese night, or berets if you’re exploring French cuisine. In the
end, it won’t matter if you let your kids wear sombreros to dinner, what
will matter is that they have the great memory. A bit of silliness and
lighthearted fun can turn an awkward, silent meal into one that’s
punctuated by peals of laughter and plenty of happiness. Togetherness is
the name of the game, not impressing the neighbors with your kids’
impeccable clothing.

Avoid Incendiary Topics
It can be very tempting to take advantage of the one night you’re
sure to have everyone’s attention to issue edicts about new rules,
complain about the state of bedrooms or tackle behavioral issues, but it
will only serve to alienate everyone and make them dread family dinner
altogether. Declaring your weekly meal a judgment-free zone will
eliminate one more reason why kids are reluctant to participate, and
will help to foster the sense of happiness and camaraderie that you’re
looking for. Save the big talks about grades, laundry and problem
behavior for one-on-one time.

If family dinner night proves to be a success, it may be easier to
work two or even three nights a week into the mix. It’s best to focus on
wholesome, healthy but quick meals for any additional nights, because
preparing themed feasts can easily become too time consuming to pull off
more than once each week. Rather than sacrificing the practice of
adventurous meals altogether, let those meals stand as their own
occasion and just enjoy simple, healthy meals together whenever you can.

First published on http://www.findananny.net/blog/how-to-plan-weekly-family-dinners/

Friday, March 15, 2013

Volunteering as a family, whether on a local or even an international
level, has many benefits for both you and your children. There is an
astonishing array of programs out there designed specifically to help
kids get involved along with their parents, fostering positive
self-growth and other valuable attributes that your children will carry
with them throughout their adult lives. Here are ten of the reasons why
you might want to consider volunteering programs with your children, and
the positive impact that such activities will have on their
development.

Instilling a Sense of Compassion – Teaching the
concept of compassion can be quite challenging, especially when children
are young and have a limited perspective of the world. By volunteering
to help people and animals in need, your kids can learn what compassion
is and also how to show their own compassion in ways that help those
around them.

Learning to Appreciate Their Good Fortune – Some
children may not realize how privileged and fortunate they are to have a
safe home, warm clothing and plenty of food to eat. By working with
people that aren’t so lucky, your kids can gain a new appreciation for
the things that they have, and an understanding of how valuable those
things really are.

Acquiring New Skills – Working in a volunteer
capacity will help your children gain new skills by putting them in a
position that will require them to gain and utilize the things they’ve
learned. Whether it’s proper care of animals or helping to build a
Habitat for Humanity home, every volunteer act will help your youngsters
learn new skills and valuable lessons.

Learning About Responsibility – When the care of an
animal, the happiness of an elderly person or the full belly of a
homeless person is something your child is tasked with, they’ll have a
better understanding of what true responsibility is and learn how to
apply it in their daily lives.

Exploring New Interests – Young children may not
always realize where they’re interests lie, due simply to the fact that
they haven’t been exposed to them yet. Budding veterinarians may feel
that spark as a result of volunteering at the local animal shelter,
while future geriatric specialists learn of their affinity for helping
the elderly after working with them at a senior center.

Building New Relationships – Working with other
children and their families through a volunteer program will expand your
child’s social circle beyond their peers at school and play date
buddies. Learning the art of making new friends and forging new bonds is
only one of the benefits of youth volunteer work.

Boosting Self-Esteem – Being able to look at a
positive difference in the community and take ownership for part of it
is a great self-esteem booster, especially for children that struggle in
that area. Knowing that they’ve helped someone in need and made that
person or animal’s life better through their own efforts is a powerful
confidence booster.

Fostering a Sense of Civic Responsibility – Helping
to improve their community through hard work and dedication not only
instills a sense of compassion and responsibility in kids, but also
helps them understand the concept of civic responsibility.

Encouraging Physical Activity – So many favorite
activities of today’s kids require nothing more than an electronic
device and a comfortable place to sit. Getting your kids involved in
community volunteer programs has physical benefits in addition to the
many psychological and emotional ones, as it gets them off the couch and
involved in physically active work.

Making a Difference in the Community – While most
parents do want to get their children involved in community volunteer
programs in order to help them reap the benefits of socially-conscious
work, the positive impact on the community itself can’t be ignored. When
you and your children volunteer together, you’re strengthening the
community as well as your own personal bond.

While there are community-based programs that will allow children to
volunteer as part of an organization with direct supervision from
program directors and leaders, it’s best to look for programs that will
allow your family to get involved as a unit, rather than simply dropping
the kids off and pursuing your own interests during the rare and
valuable downtime. Remember that children learn many of their habits and
ideas from observing the adults that they love and admire; one of the
best ways to reinforce the things that they’re learning and encourage
further development of their new skills is to model desirable behavior
alongside them.

First published on http://www.parttimenanny.org/blog/10-reasons-kids-should-get-involved-with-volunteer-work/

Thursday, March 14, 2013

There are few lessons that we need to pass onto our children that are
more valuable and more essential than teaching them the necessity of
managing money properly and spending wisely; here are 10 tips to help
kids learn those skills.

Establish the Difference Between “Need” and “Want” –
Modern marketing directed at kids vigorously blurs the line between
needs and wants, making it difficult for children to understand the
concept. One of the first steps to successfully teaching children how to
be financially responsible is to help them understand that difference,
and to see through the marketing ploys that are directed at them.

Give Older Kids a Debit Card, But Monitor Their Use
– Opening a bank account for your child with a debit card for personal
use can help them learn to spend wisely and keep track of his account’s
balance, especially if you sign up for text and email alerts to keep you
informed of his available funds.

Institute a Chore-Based Allowance, With Extra Earning Opportunities –
Rather than giving children a weekly allowance with absolutely no ties
to work or earning, let them know that their allowance, like a paycheck,
is contingent upon them completing the tasks that are assigned to them.
In addition to a regular set of chores, provide opportunities for kids
to earn extra money by performing additional chores, like washing your
car.

Create a Savings Plan – Allow kids to choose one
extravagant or expensive item that they want, and help them start saving
their own money for it. In addition to helping them appreciate the item
more than they would if it were simply given to them, the process of
saving also helps them learn to budget for things that they want but
can’t afford outright.

Start Building Credit History Early – Using a
secured credit card can help teens establish a credit history. Helping
teenagers understand what a credit rating is and how it affects their
lives is one of the most effective ways of preventing a credit-card
spending spree in college.

Let Kids Help Plan a Budgeted Activity –
Elementary-aged kids can benefit from being allowed to help with the
planning of a budgeted activity. Presenting them with the amount of
available money, the potential expenses and any other factors while
allowing them to make decisions about how every dollar should be spent
is a valuable lesson learned in a controlled environment, and one that
is much better than learning about budgeting by going bankrupt after
college!

Institute a Policy of Fines – When kids are
expected to pay a fine for misbehavior or rule-breaking, they’re
absorbing the concept of paying for mistakes. Fine-based disciplinary
policies help kids connect willful disobedience with financial loss,
just as adults pay fines for breaking the law or lose money through
making poor choices.

Talk About Finances – Too many parents treat the
family finances like a closely-guarded secret, keeping kids in the dark.
However, when talks about money are as uncomfortable as those about the
birds and bees, kids are missing opportunities to learn the basic
tenets of financial responsibility.

Let Them Make Mistakes – One of the most powerful
teaching tools in a parent’s financial-responsibility arsenal is the
willingness to let children make financial mistakes while they’re still
young and those mistakes are on a smaller, more manageable scale. After
kids absorb the full impact of their poor choices, parents can swoop in
and offer assistance, along with a frank discussion about how and where
they went wrong.

Lead By Example – “Do as I say, not as I do” isn’t a
valid parenting tactic in any situation, but it’s especially
counterproductive when you’re trying to teach kids about money and
financial accountability. Making large, extravagant purchases without
giving them the proper consideration and spending indiscriminately sends
kids the message that they can do the same thing, regardless of what
you’re trying to teach them through elaborate lessons.

By working with your children from a young age and helping them to
learn about money management and wise spending, you’re helping to create
a financially independent adult who will be able to live on their own
and manage their own finances without requiring major bailouts from you.
The best gift you can give your children is the ability to spend
wisely; it will serve them, and you, very well as they become adults.

First published on http://www.nannywebsites.com/blog/10-tips-for-teaching-children-financial-responsibility/

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